Shepherd&#39;s crook.



UNrrED sTATns' PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HARDING, OF FORESTGROVE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR TO A. JACKMAN, OFLEWISTOWN, MONTANA.

SHEPHERDS CROOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed April 9, 1906. Serial N'o. 310,721.

To fri/Z whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HARDING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Forestgrove, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana,have invented certain new and` part of this application and in whichsimilarl reference symbols indicate' corresponding parts in the severalviews: Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, illustratingone embodiment of my invention, and Fig. 2 is rear elevation of theconstruction shown in 1g. l.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates any convenient form of staff,secured in any usual manner in the shank 2 of .the crook. The bodyportion 3 of the crook carries a hook portion 4, the outer end of whichflares outwardly to facilitate bringing the crook into engagement withthe leg of a sleep, and terminates in a roll l0 to strengthen the end ofthe hook and prevent injury to a sheep during its use.

A locking lever 5 is pivoted at 6 in lugs 11 on the body portion of thecrook, in position to swing through a slot 7 in said body portion forpositively closing the hook portion 4. A spring 8 is shown engaging theouter end of the locking lever for normally maintaining it in itsclosed, or locking, position.

The inner end of the locking lever is shown formed substantially in anarc about its pivotal supportV 6, thereby obviating danger of the leverbecoming ammed in its locked position and enabling it to be readilyswung outward for releasing a sheep.

As shown in the drawings, 4the locking lever is released by pressingdown 4on its outer end 9, thereby swinging said lever against thetension of the spring 8 into the position indicated by broken lines inFig. l. If desired, a cord could be attached to the outer end 9 of thelever and led to the end of the staff 1, thereby enabling the sheep tobe relfased by the operator at the end of the sta Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire ters Patent, is

l. A shepherds crook comprising a slotted body portion formed with ashank constituting a shaft attachment, a hook portion, and a to secureby Letlocking lever pivotally supported on said` body portion at therear of said slot and arranged to swing inwardly through said slot forpositively closing the hook portion, the

inner endv of said lever formed substantially in an arc about saidpivotal support, substantially as described.

2. A shepherds crook comprising a slotted body portion formed with ashank constituting a shaft attachment, a hook portion, lugs extendingfrom the outer surface of said body otal support, substantiall asdescribed.

In testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of` two witnesses.

CHARLES HARDING. Witnesses H. F. KROPP, JOHN AUeAs.

